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Ponds and lakes · Karnataka

Ponds and lakes in Davanagere

25ponds, out of 387 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 387 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Davanagere district. 374 of them (97%) were not in use and 1 had been encroached upon. Davanagere has the 17th most ponds of the 27 districts in Karnataka the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Davanagere

374 of 387 water bodies (97%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.

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Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies (2018-19), via India-WRIS.

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  • Ponds25
  • Tanks318
  • Lakes30
  • Reservoirs2
  • Check dams and percolation tanks2
  • Others10

Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).

Why Davanagere's ponds matter for its groundwater

89%Semi-critical

Davanagere pumps out 89% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates semi-critical. Every pond that holds rain long enough for it to soak in puts some of that water back, so the 374 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Davanagere

Bringing a pond in Davanagere back

Most ponds that are not in use can be revived. The work is the same in a village or a city sector:

Step 1

Survey

Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.

Step 2

Desilt

Dig out the silt that has sealed the bed, so water soaks into the ground again instead of evaporating.

Step 3

Reconnect

Clear and line the channels that bring rain in, with a silt trap before the pond; divert sewage away from it.

Step 4

Recharge

Add recharge shafts or wells in the bed where the soil is tight, so water reaches the aquifer faster.

Step 5

Protect

Fence or plant the banks, mark the boundary and hand upkeep to the panchayat or residents' body.

Talk to TerraSetu about a pondPond rejuvenation: cost and processOther ways to recharge

Frequently asked questions

How many ponds are there in Davanagere?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 25 ponds in Davanagere district, out of 387 water bodies in all. That is the 17th most ponds of 27 districts in Karnataka counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Davanagere?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 30 lakes and 2 reservoirs in Davanagere district, along with 318 tanks.

How many water bodies in Davanagere are not in use?

374 of the 387 water bodies (97%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 1 had been encroached upon.

How do ponds help groundwater in Davanagere?

A working pond holds rain long enough for it to soak into the ground and refill wells and borewells nearby. A silted or encroached pond sends that rain down the drain instead. Desilting, reopening inlets and adding recharge shafts in the pond bed are among the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.

Is groundwater in Davanagere running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Davanagere district pumped out 89% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("semi-critical").

Ponds in other districts of Karnataka

Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.

  1. 1Hassan5,491 water bodies, 74% not in use1,731
  2. 2Mandya2,437 water bodies, 58% not in use881
  3. 3Tumakuru3,109 water bodies, 92% not in use795
  4. 4Shivamogga3,937 water bodies, 57% not in use724
  5. 5Chikkaballapura753 water bodies, 90% not in use436
  6. 6Bengaluru South1,213 water bodies, 82% not in use360
  7. 7Kolara1,304 water bodies, 91% not in use326
  8. 8Haveri1,449 water bodies, 60% not in use297
  9. 9Udupi618 water bodies, 100% not in use205
  10. 10Uttara Kannada1,313 water bodies, 86% not in use162
  11. 11Raichur133 water bodies, 100% not in use121
  12. 12Chitradurga460 water bodies, 83% not in use118
  13. 13Bidar730 water bodies, 100% not in use67
  14. 14Belagavi145 water bodies, 100% not in use35
  15. 15Gadag92 water bodies, 73% not in use30
  16. 16Bengaluru (Urban)718 water bodies, 100% not in use29
  17. 17Yadgir349 water bodies, 100% not in use21
  18. 18Kodagu584 water bodies, 100% not in use10
  19. 19Dharwad87 water bodies, 47% not in use10
  20. 20Chikkamagaluru477 water bodies, 78% not in use8
  21. 21Kalburgi527 water bodies, 100% not in use6
  22. 22Mysuru318 water bodies, 99% not in use0
  23. 23Koppal98 water bodies, 100% not in use0
  24. 24Chamarajanagara83 water bodies, 100% not in use0
  25. 25Bengaluru (Rural)15 water bodies, 100% not in use0
  26. 26Vijayapura14 water bodies, 100% not in use0

All ponds and lakes in Karnataka